Method and apparatus for manufacturing methanol
US5954925A · kind A · utility
6Cited by
17References
1Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/52
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In a method of and apparatus for manufacturing methanol from methane, a catalytic area is formed on the exterior of a hollow sintered stainless steel tube. Methane is maintained within the sintered stainless steel tube at predetermined pressure, and water continuously flowing across the exterior surface thereof strips the methane forming sub-micron sized methane bubbles. Ultraviolet light energy is directed onto the catalytic surface to form hydroxyl radicals from the flowing water. The hydroxyl radicals cleave the carbon-hydrogen bonds of the methane to form methyl ions which combine with the hydroxyl ions to form methanol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.